Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1887-09-30
CONTAGIOUS PLEURO PNEU-
MONA,

Although this disease appeared in the
United States as long ago as 1850, prob
ably few people hereabouts have given any
attention to it for the reason that Yer
mont has been free from it hitherto. Now
that it has broken out right at home, in
formation concerning it may be of inter-
eat to our readers.
Contagious pleuro-pneumonia has been
known in Europe for about two hundred
years. 1t was first described in Hesse in
the latter part of the 18th century. In
IVA it appeared in Switzerland, but
seems to have been confined to a limited
district for many years. 1t was not till
1863 that it appeared in Champagne,
suburbs of Paris about 1870. From 1920
to 1910 the disease spread into almost all
parts of France; in 1926 it broke out in
Belgium, and from 1900 on it seems to
of Europe. The theory is that it was
carried by the cattle taken around to sup
ply food for the armies. 1t was finally
brought to the United States by importa
tons of cattle and was spread by the
same means to Australia and South Afri-
ca Indeed, there is scarcely civilized
country on the globe that has not suffered
from it in recent years. The losses Occa-
stoned by it have been very heavy. Dur
ing a period of IL years the deaths from
it in Australia numbered a million and
half, and in the six years ending with
1860 more than a million head of cattle
died of it in Great Britain.
1t is, says one writer. ga specific infec-
tious disease, generally affecting the
lungs and the lining membrane of the
chest, producing particular form of To-
bar or lobular pleuro-pneumonia, and in
the majority of cases, if not in all, it is
transmitted through the medium of the
inspired air."
The same authority says of the symp-
toms: "The malady is slow and insidi-
Gus in its course, lasting from two to
three weeks to as many months, the chief
symptoms being fever, diminished appe-
tite, a short cough of a peculiar charac-
ter, with quickened breathing and pulse
and physical indications of lung and chest
disease. The progress of the disease is
marked by aggravation of the symptoms
and toward the end there is great debili-
ty and emaciation, death generally ensu-
ing after hectic fever has set in. Recov-
cry is somewhat rare"
As to the dangerous character of the
disease, due to its nature, DR.. Armatage,
an English veterinarian, says: "FrOm
the heightened period which elapses be-
tween the occasion of known contact with
diseased animals and appearance of first
symptoms, together with the lingering
or tardy progress of diseased action, it
is known as subtle and insidious. What
ever may be the subtle and decetful ma
ture of the plague (rinderpest). pleuro-
pneumonia epizootica possesses those
powers in thousand-fold more fatal de-
gree. The seeds of contagiOn Turk
among stock for weeks or even months
and eventually break out in isolated and
often not well-marked symptoms, and
with the death of the first victim propri-
etors are sometimes induced to consider
that the disease has altogether departed
again. However, after a few more weeks
another victim falls, and, in the lapse of
time of more or less duration. another
another and so on until all are taken"
Remedies are apparently of little use.
Destruction of diseased animals, and iso-
lation of those supposed to be infected,
are the means almost universally en-
ployed for the control and extirpation of
the disease. incubation has been tried,
but is only partially successful. The
contagious character of pleuro-pneumo-
mia is now well established, although it
was disputed up to a recent date. Alto
gether it must be conceded that the dis
ease is one of very serious character
and for the extinction of which only the
most rigorous measures will suffice.